2018 Vin de France La Creation

Made from 100% Grenache (equal parts from Lirac and from Châteauneuf du Pape), the 2018 Vin De France La Creation reveals a more ruby/translucent color as well a beautiful perfume of ripe black cherries, violets, cured meats, spice, and Provençal garrigue. Playing in the more medium-bodied end of the spectrum, it has a seamless, elegant texture, no hard edges, silky tannins, and a great, great finish. This is one hell of a Vin de France. Enjoy this elegant, beautifully balanced 2018 any time over the coming 5-7 years. Readers looking for the next superstar estate in Châteauneuf du Pape and Côtes du Rhône need to get on Raymond Usseglio’s bandwagon ASAP as the quality here is equal to anything out there today. I still remember writing in 2016 how the quality was on the uptick, and there’s no better example than these latest 2018s and 2019s. The 2018s show the prettier, more elegant style of the vintage, yet bring ample depth and concentration. The 2019s are a step up and offer another level of depth and concentration. Both vintages show incredible purity of fruit and balance. In addition to his Châteauneuf du Pape, don’t miss the Côtes du Rhônes and Vin de France releases!

Equal parts of old-vine Grenache from sandy soils (in Lirac) and stony soils (in Chateauneuf du Pape) were co-fermented to make the 2018 Vin de France le Creation. It's a full-bodied, concentrated effort, with bold black cherry fruit, an expansive mouthfeel, silky tannins and a lengthy, faintly herb and licorice-tinged finish. Despite its size, it never seems overdone, retaining a sense of freshness and balance.